What’s maldigestion?

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Maldigestion is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by dysfunctions of the digestive system that cause it to malfunction. There are a number of reasons a person might have digestive problems. Chronic poor digestion can lead to malabsorption, in which people cannot get the nutrients they need from their diets and experience health problems as a result. People with digestive and malabsorption disorders may experience problems such as weight loss, diarrhea, abdominal pain and tenderness, excessive farting, fatigue, poor skin, and unhealthy hair and nails.

One of the reasons why indigestion occurs is a pathological process. Diseases of the liver, kidneys and pancreas can all lead to indigestion because these organs play a role in digestive processes, as can conditions such as Crohn’s disease. Genetic conditions such as enzyme deficiencies can also contribute, with people not making the enzymes they need to break down food. A common example is lactose intolerance, where people can’t digest lactose because they don’t have the right enzymes. Gluten intolerance is another common example of an indigestion disorder.

Other things that may be related to this condition include problems with gastric emptying, such as emptying stomach contents before they’re ready to move on to the next stage of digestion, and changes to the structure of the stomach or intestines. Some surgeries can cause indigestion by removing parts of the small or large intestine or by reconstructing the stomach. Sometimes this is actually deliberate, such as in the case of weight loss surgery that is meant to restrict digestion.

When a patient appears to have this condition, a doctor may order some diagnostic tests to find out more. These may include imaging studies to examine the structure of the intestinal tract, along with challenge tests with various food items designed to determine whether or not these foods are associated with the problem. Measures to address the inability to digest food may include dietary changes and surgery.

It’s important to be aware that the condition can have a knock-on effect. When someone can’t digest wheat, for example, it causes inflammation and irritation that interferes with the absorption of nutrients from foods that can normally be digested. This is why people get sick when they are unable to digest certain foods, and it can take weeks or months for the digestive tract to recover and start processing food normally. When people stray from restrictive diets and consume a prohibited food, they may experience lingering adverse effects due to the disruption caused by the indigestible food.

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